China successfully launches new Weather Satellite

January 13, 2012

Photo: ChinaNews.com

_China has
orbited another Satellite after making the first Launch of this year just a few
days ago on January 9. A Long
March 3A Launch Vehicle lifted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center at
0:56 UTC on Friday (8:56 Beijing Time), January 13. According to Chinese Media, the launch was
executed as planned and the Payload – a Fengyun Weather Satellite – was
delivered to its desired orbit 24 minutes after launch. Fengyun 2F will operate
from an orbital position of 112°E once in geosynchronous orbit. The satellite
will undergo a short period of checkouts and its orbit will be fine-tuned over
a timeframe usually taking several weeks.Fengyun 2F
was developed by the Shanghai Academy of Space Flight Technology and the China
Academy of Space Technology. The Spacecraft will be operated by the China
Meteorological Administration as it provides new meteorological data every 15
Minutes. FY-2F is also outfitted to monitor space weather which is becoming
more important for the nation as it plans to execute long duration missions of
manned spacecraft and space-lab modules.
FY-2F will be a backup satellite for two satellites
that were launched in 2006 and 2008 and have already exceeded their design
lives of 3 years. 2F is planned to operate for four years. China will launch
two more Fengyun 2 satellites before the next generation of weather satellites
(Fengyun 4) becomes operational.

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